Marirosa Mia: There are thousands of books published
each year, which makes me both incredibly happy and incredibly sad, because
there’s simply not enough time to read every single one of them! 2012 was
another great year for books in all genres and for all ages. Though I can say
that I probably read close to 60 books in 2012 (half of which aren’t coming out
until THIS year!), there are still many 2012 books I need to get to. Like:
LIAR & SPY – Rebecca Stead: WHEN YOU REACH ME was the first book Julie and I reviewed on this blog and one of the reasons I wanted to start a blog in the first place, so I can’t wait to read Stead's new novel!
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS – John Green: Please don’t yell at me because I haven’t read it yet. YES, I know, I know, but I guess I’m waiting for when I want to die in a puddle of my own tears to read it, OK?
TELL THE WOLVES I'M HOME – Carol Rifka Brunt: An amazing title. Gorgeous cover. Gut-wrenching plotline: 1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life—someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.
Julie: I also need to read LIAR & SPY, but I've beat you to THE FAULT IN OUR STARS and TELL THE WOLVES I'M HOME. I loved TELL THE WOVLES I'M HOME, and I'm apparently the only reader on the planet who found THE FAULT IN OUR STARS ultimately tiresome. I suspect if I'd loved it, then you would've read it too by now, for a possible blog review. Sorry about that!
I'm intrigued by BUILDING STORIES, by Chris Ware, in which stories are presented in a host of different formats. I've never seen a better reviewed book. Check out these review excerpts: http://www.amazon.com/Building-Stories-Chris-Ware/dp/product-description/0375424334/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books. It's certainly not a book for younger kids, though. Maybe young adults.
I recently read and enjoyed Louise Erdich's THE PLAGUE OF DOVES (written for adults) and liked it enough to order CHICKADEE, her 2012 middle-grade novel about twin brothers who somehow become separated. (Erdich's THE ROUND HOUSE, a sister book to THE PLAGUE OF DOVES, won the National Book Award this year.)
And I became fascinated by Lisa O'Donnell's THE DEATH OF BEES after hearing an interview with her on NPR this weekend. I'm cheating a little with this one, since it's technically a 2013 release. But it fascinates me because the synopsis of the plot is so similar to that of THE SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS, a 2012 middle-grade novel by Sara Pennypacker. Both books involve two girls trying to hide the death of the grownups in their household. Pennypacker also wrote the CLEMENTINE books, which I wholeheartedly love; but I was disappointed by THE SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS. I have a hunch that THE DEATH OF BEES will compare favorably--and that comparing the two will yield interesting writing tips. We'll see!
M: Those all sounds great! How about our readers out there? Any 2012 books you haven't gotten to? What 2013 reads are you dying to sink your teeth into? As for us, Julie, we better start reading.
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